Self closing device for a slide and slide having this

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a self-closing apparatus for a slide, which automatically moves a drawer to a completely closed position by tensile force of springs when the user moves the drawer toward the closed position. The self-closing apparatus includes a pair of springs, a moving pin, a moving pin guide, a plate-shaped movable member, and a fixed member. The moving pin includes a support pin portion, a support plate, and a guide protrusion. The moving pin guide includes a moving pin guide slot including a pin-receiving inlet portion and a pin engaging portion. The movable member includes a plate portion provided with a hole, a sliding rod formed integrally with the plate portion, and spring support portions. The fixed member includes a support base including spring support portions, an extension bar including movable member sliding portions and a moving pin guide portion, and a head.

This is a nationalization of PCT/KR04/003489 filed Dec. 29, 2004 andpublished in English.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a self-closing apparatus for a slideand a slide having this, and more particularly to a self-closingapparatus for a slide, which automatically moves a drawer to acompletely closed position by means of elastic force of springs when thedrawer moves toward the closed position, and a slide having theself-closing apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, slides are mounted to an item, for example, a cabinet, inwhich a drawer is received, in such a manner that a pair of slides aresymmetrically mounted to opposite side walls of the cabinet defining aspace for receiving the drawer, in order to slidably move the drawerbetween a closed position and an open position. Such slides are mainlyused in drawers of tables, clothes chests, and dressers, and may be usedin any item, such as a Kimchi refrigerator, including a drawer ordrawers slidable between a closed position and an open position withrespect to the body of item.

Conventional slides have a problem in that force must be continuouslyapplied to the drawer until the drawer is completely closed. Also, thereis inconvenience in that, when the drawer is closed with excessiveforce, the drawer may slam against the cabinet, so that the drawer maybe unintentionally re-opened due to the resultant repulsive force. Inorder to solve these problems, a proposal has been made in which theslides are mounted such that they are slightly downwardly inclined asthey extend inwardly in the cabinet, thereby causing the drawer to beself-closed without being unintentionally opened. In this case, however,the drawer may slam against the cabinet due to the weights of the drawerand articles received in the drawer, thereby generating high impactforce. As a result, the cabinet, the drawer, and rails of the slidessupporting the drawer may be damaged.

In order to solve the above problem, the present applicant proposed animproved structure which is disclosed in Korean Utility ModelRegistration No. 20-0287996 entitled “SLIDER FIXING AND GUIDINGAPPARATUS FOR DRAWER”. However, this apparatus, which employs a singlehooked spring, has a problem in that the apparatus cannot be used for aprolonged period of time when it is used at the drawer for receivingheavy articles because the hooked portions of the spring may be easilybroken.

PCT Publication No. WO 2001-82749 discloses a mechanism for aself-closing slide which includes a guide pin, a spring, an actuator,and a housing. The spring and actuator of the mechanism are coupled tothe guide pin such that the spring urges the actuator toward a rear wallof the housing. The spring is in a compressed state at an open positionof the slide, and is in a normal state at a closed position of theslide. The spring is not stretched, and is thus not broken.

The housing of the above mechanism includes rear, front, upper and twoopposite side walls, and has a structure for receiving all of the guidepin, spring, and actuator. That is, the housing has a box-shapedstructure within which the guide pin, spring, and actuator are placed.However, such a box-shaped housing cannot be easily manufactured, andrequires high production costs. In order to fix the housing to a fixedmember (an outer member) of the slide, a plurality of legs are formedintegrally with the housing. For this reason, there are problems of amore complex manufacturing process and an increase in manufacturingcosts.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the aboveproblems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide aself-closing apparatus for a slide, which automatically moves a drawerto a completely closed position by tensile force of springs and preventsthe spring from being early broken and has a simple structure.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objectscan be accomplished by the provision of a self-closing apparatuscomprising: a pair of springs; a moving pin; a moving pin guide; aplate-shaped movable member; and a plate-shaped fixed member.

The moving pin comprises a support pin portion having a cylindricalshape, a support plate, and a guide protrusion. The moving pin guidecomprises a moving pin guide slot and first coupling means. The movingpin guide slot is formed by a pin-receiving inlet portion defined by twoinlet surfaces and a pin engaging portion defined by three engagingsurfaces. The movable member comprises a plate portion centrallyprovided with a hole, sliding rods formed integrally with the plateportion, and spring support portions to which first ends of the springsare respectively coupled. The fixed member may comprises a support basecomprising spring support portions, to which second ends of the springsare respectively coupled, an extension bar comprising movable membersliding portions formed at opposite longitudinal sides of the extensionbar, and a moving pin guide portion formed at an intermediate portion ofthe extension bar, a head, and second coupling means.

Each sliding rod of the movable member comprises a protrusion and asliding groove. The moving pin guide portion of the fixed membercomprises a rectilinear guide portion and a curved guide portion. Themoving pin guide may be fixed to a movable rail of the slide by thefirst coupling means such that the moving pin guide is moved togetherwith the movable rail. The fixed member is fixed to a fixed rail of theslide by the second coupling means.

The moving pin is slidably coupled to the moving pin guide portion ofthe fixed member. The movable member sliding portions of the fixedmember is slidably engaged with the sliding grooves of the movablemember under a condition in which the support pin portion of the movingpin is inserted in the hole of the movable member, so that the movingpin moves integrally with the movable member along the moving pin guideportion of the fixed member when the movable member slides along themovable member sliding portions of the fixed member.

In accordance with the present invention, when the slide is in anextended state, the moving pin of the self-closing apparatus is locatedat the curved guide portion of the moving pin guide portion of the fixedmember. When the slide is in a retracted state, the moving pin islocated at an inner end of the rectilinear guide portion of the movingpin guide portion. When the moving pin moves from the locationcorresponding to the extended state of the slide to the locationcorresponding to the retraced state of the slide, this movement isautomatically carried out by tensile force of the springs. Thus, theself-closing apparatus automatically closes the slide. The self-closingapparatus of the present invention prevents early breakage of springs,has a simple structure and low production costs, and is easily returnedfrom an abnormal operating state to a normal operating state.

Preferably, an engagement groove is formed at one of three engagingsurfaces of the pin engaging portion.

Further preferably, tapered portions are formed at a portion near theends of the spring.

Further preferably, the extension bar of the fixed member comprisesprotrusions being parallel with the movable member sliding portionswhile being close to the movable member sliding portions.

Further preferably, a movable rail support is formed on a surface of themovable member to support and guide the movable rail.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a three-member slide;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a three-member slide having aself-closing apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the self-closing apparatus in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a moving pin;

FIGS. 5A to 5C are a perspective, rear, and front views respectively ofa moving pin guide;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a perspective and front views respectively of anembodiment of a movable member;

FIG. 6C is a sectional view of the movable member seen from thedirection of “B” of FIG. 6A;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are a front and rear view respectively of a fixedmember;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which only themoving pin is engaged with the fixed member;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are front views respectively illustrating a state inwhich the moving pin is located at one end of a rectilinear guideportion of a moving pin guide portion of the fixed member, and a statein which the moving pin is located at a curved guide portion of themoving pin guide portion of the fixed member;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the moving pinis separated from the moving pin guide;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the moving pinguide is coupled to the moving pin located at the curved guide portion;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the moving pinguide is coupled to the moving pin and is located at a completelyretracted position of the slide by the force of springs;

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment movablemember;

FIG. 14B is a sectional view of the movable member seen from thedirection of “B” of FIG. 14A; and

FIG. 15 is a schematic view illustrating an abnormal state of theself-closing apparatus of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Generally, slides may be two-member slides (including a fixed rail and amovable rail) or three-member slides (including a fixed rail and twomovable rails). Referring to FIG. 1, a three-member slide 10 isillustrated. The three-member slide comprises a fixed rail (outermember) 800 and two movable rails, i.e., an intermediate movable rail(intermediate member) 900 sliding within the fixed rail 800 and an innermovable rail (inner member) 700 sliding within the intermediate movablerail 900 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Ball retainers 950 having proper lengths arepositioned between adjacent rails. Balls 955 are retained by the ballretainers 950, respectively, thereby allowing the movable rails 700 and900 to smoothly slide.

The slide 10, as shown in FIG. 2, is used to slidably move a drawer 960between a closed position and an open position in a cabinet (not shown).The fixed rail 800 of the slide 10 is attached to a proper position ofthe cabinet and drawer 960 is coupled to the inner movable rail 700 byfastening means such as screws fastened through coupling holes 720.Accordingly, movement of the drawer 960 causes sliding of the innermovable rail 700 and/or the intermediate movable rail 900. At acompletely closed position of the drawer 960, the slide 10 is in acompletely retracted state (a completely retracted state of the movablerails). At a completely open state of the drawer 960, the slide 10 is ina completely extended state (a completely extended state of the movablerails).

A self-closing apparatus 20 for a slide in accordance with the presentinvention is mounted to the rearmost end of the fixed rail 800. A railgroove 910 is formed at the rearmost end of the intermediate movablerail 900 to receive a part of the self-closing apparatus 20.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the self-closing apparatus 20 inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Theself-closing apparatus 20 comprises a moving pin 400, a movable member200, a fixed member 100, and a pair of springs 500. The self-closingapparatus 20 further comprises a moving pin guide 300 (FIG. 11) coupledto the inside of the inner movable rail 700 and separably engaged withthe moving pin 400.

Referring to FIG. 4, the moving pin 400 includes a guide protrusion 410formed at one end of the moving pin 400, a support pin portion 430formed at the other end of the moving pin 400, and a support plate 420formed between the guide protrusion 410 and the support pin portion 430.The moving pin 400 also includes a groove 411 formed between the guideprotrusion 410 and the support plate 420. The support pin portion 430 ofthe moving pin 400 has a cylindrical shape.

FIGS. 5A to 5C are a perspective, rear, and front views respectively ofthe moving pin guide 300. A moving pin guide slot 350 is formed at themoving pin guide 300 (FIG. 5A), and includes a pin-receiving inletportion 310 and a pin engaging portion 320 (FIG. 5B). The pin-receivinginlet portion 310 includes a first inlet surface 311 and a second inletsurface 312, whereas the pin engaging portion 320 includes a firstrectilinear engaging surface 323, a second rectilinear engaging surface324, and a curved engaging surface 325. Preferably, an engagement groove328, with which the moving pin 400 is engagable, is formed at the secondrectilinear engaging surface 324 of the pin engaging portion 320. Thedetailed function of the moving pin guide slot 350 will be describedlater.

The moving pin guide 300 includes first coupling means for coupling themoving pin guide 300 to the inner movable rail 700 (FIG. 11) of theslide 10. FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate a hole 330, serving as the firstcoupling means, in which a coupling protrusion 710 of the inner movablerail 700 is fitted.

Preferably, elastic blocks 340 are respectively formed at oppositelongitudinal sides of the moving pin guide 300. The elastic blocks 340are slightly diverged from each other in a state of being outwardlyprotruded from the associated longitudinal sides of the moving pin guide300, respectively, as they extend rearward. A buffering groove 341 isformed around each elastic block 340. Since the elastic blocks 340 arediverged from each other in a state of outwardly protruded from theassociated longitudinal sides of the moving pin guide 300, FIG. 5B,illustrating the rear surface of the moving pin guide 300 (here, therear surface refers to the surface of the moving pin guide 300 coupledto the inner movable rail 700 of the slide 10), shows that the elasticblocks 340 are protruded from the longitudinal side surfaces of themoving pin guide 300. But, FIG. 5C, illustrating the front surface ofthe moving pin guide 300, shows that the opposite longitudinal edges ofthe moving pin guide 300 are rectilinear. When the moving pin guide 300is inserted into the inner movable rail 700 of the slide 10, the elasticblocks 340 is elastically deformed to allow an easy insertion of themoving pin guide 300 (since the self-closing apparatus of the presentinvention including the moving pin guide 300 is made of a proper plasticmaterial, the elastic blocks 340 have an elasticity). Once the movingpin guide 300 is inserted into the inner movable rail 700, the elasticblocks 340 serve to prevent the moving pin guide 300 from beingseparated from the inner movable rail 700 of the slide 10. Thus, themoving pin guide 300 is easily inserted into the inner movable rail 700and firmly fixed to the inner movable rail 700 by the first couplingmeans and the elastic blocks 340.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are a perspective and front views respectively of themovable member 200, and FIG. 6C is a sectional view of the movablemember 200 seen from the direction of “B” of FIG. 6A. The movable member200 includes a substantially rectangular plate portion 210, sliding rods220 formed integrally with the plate portion 210, and spring supportportions 212 respectively formed at opposite longitudinal sides of theplate portion 210.

Each sliding rod 220 includes a protrusion 221 and a U-shaped slidinggroove 222. Movable member sliding portions 121 of the fixed member 100,which will be described later, are respectively engaged in the slidinggrooves 222 of the sliding rod 220.

The spring support portions 212 are formed at an end of the plateportion 210 opposite to an engaging surface 223. In the presentinvention, any linear spring may be used as the springs. That is, anylinear spring, both end portions of which have a hooked or taperedshape, may be used. Preferably, tapered linear springs which have thetapered portions respectively formed at a portion near the end of thespring are used. The tapered spring 500 (FIGS. 10A and 10B) can be usedfor a prolonged period of time without breakage even when a heavy loadof the drawer is applied to the slide, as compared to the hooked linearspring. According to a test performed by the present applicant, thehooked portions of the hooked spring was broken when the hooked springwas repeatedly used approximately 5,000 times, but the tapered springhaving the same strength as that of the hooked spring had a life span aslong as 5 times the hooked rectilinear spring under the same drawerload. Referring to FIG. 6A, one end of each tapered spring 500 isreceived in an associated one of the spring support portions 212.

A hole 211 is centrally formed through the plate portion 210. Thesupport pin portion 430 of the moving pin 400 shown in FIG. 4 isinserted into the hole 211 from the direction of the sliding grooves222. Preferably, the hole 211 has a length corresponding to atransversal length C (FIG. 7A) of a moving pin guide portion 123 formedat the fixed member 100 so that the support pin portion 430 received inthe hole 211 can move transversely. Further, preferably, a bufferingportion 213 for absorbing impact, which is applied to the movable member200 when the movable member 200 collides with another member, is formedon one end of the plate portion 210.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are a front and rear view respectively of the fixedmember 100. Here, the rear surface of the fixed member 100 refers to thesurface of the fixed member 100 coupled to the fixed rail 800 (FIG. 11)of the slide. The fixed member 100 includes a support base 110, anextension bar 120 formed integrally with the support base 110, and ahead 130 formed integrally with the extension bar 120. The entirestructure of the fixed member 100 has a plate shape.

Stoppers 119 are formed where the support base 110 meets the extensionbars 120 at the side of the support base 110 connected to the extensionbars 120. Spring support portions 111 are formed both sides of thesupport base 110. Each spring support portion 111 receives the other endof an associated one of the springs 500. The spring support portions 111have a structure corresponding to that of the spring support portions212 of FIG. 6A.

The moving pin guide portion 123 is longitudinally formed in theextension bar 120. The moving pin guide portion 123 includes arectilinear guide portion 124 and a curved guide portion 125. The movingpin 400 is inserted into the moving pin guide portion 123 to slide alongthe moving pin guide portion 123. Movable member sliding portions 121,which are inserted into respective sliding grooves 222 of the movablemember 200, are formed at opposite sides of the extension bar 120. Asshown in FIG. 8 illustrating the cross section of the movable member 200taken along the line A-A of FIG. 7A, protrusions 122 are formed on theextension bar 120 to extend parallel with the movable member slidingportions 121 while being close to the movable member sliding portions121. The protrusions 122 serve as supporters for preventing the movablemember 200 from being bent or twisted even when transversal orlongitudinal compressing force is applied to the movable member 200. Abuffering space 126 is formed at one end of the rectilinear guideportion 124 of the moving pin guide portion 123 of the extension bar120. The buffering space 126 is connected to the moving pin guideportion 123, and extends parallel with the moving pin guide portion 123.A support protrusion 127 is formed between the moving pin guide portion123 and the buffering space 126. Preferably, a twist preventingprotrusion 128 for preventing the support protrusion 127 from twistingis formed at the support protrusion 127 on the rear surface of the fixedmember 100. The functions of the buffering space 126 and twistpreventing protrusion 128 will be described later.

Preferably, an impact buffering portion 132 is formed at the head 130 ofthe fixed member 100. When the fixed member 100 collides with anothermember of the slide (for example, the intermediate movable rail of thethree-member slide), the impact buffering portion 132 serves to absorbimpact. The above collision may be generated when the rail reaches aretracted position.

Second coupling means for coupling the fixed member 100 to the fixedrail 800 of the slide is provided at the support base 110 and head 130of the fixed member 100. In the illustrated case, the second couplingmeans comprises coupling holes 112 and 131 for riveting.

Hereinafter, the connection and function of the above members will bedescribed.

First, the moving pin 400 is engaged in the moving pin guide portion 123of the fixed member 100. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating astate in which only the moving pin 400 is engaged with the fixed member100. This engagement is achieved by inserting the moving pin 400 intothe moving pin guide portion 123 such that the groove portion 411 of themoving pin 400 formed between the guide protrusion 410 and the supportplate 420 is engaged with the moving pin guide portion 123 of the fixedmember 100 under the condition in which the guide protrusion 410 isdirected to the rear surface of the fixed member 100, and the supportpin portion 430 is directed to the front surface of the fixed member100. Here, the above insertion is easily achieved by simply pushing theguide protrusion 410 of the moving pin 400 to pass through the movingpin guide portion 123 while pushing the support protrusion 127 towardthe buffering space 126 of the fixed member 100. After the moving pin400 is engaged in the moving pin guide portion 123, the movable member200 is coupled to the fixed member 100. Coupling is achieved byinserting the support pin portion 430 of the moving pin 400 into thehole 211 of the movable member 200, and inserting the movable membersliding portions 121 of the fixed member 100 into the sliding grooves222 of the movable member 200. Finally, one end of each spring 500 iscoupled to an associated one of the spring support portions 111 of thefixed member 100, and the other end of each spring 500 is coupled to anassociated one of the spring support portions 212 of the movable member200. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the self-closingapparatus completely assembled in the above-described manner. In theassembled state, the movable member 200 is slidable along the movablemember sliding portions 121 of the fixed member 100. When the movablemember 200 slides, the moving pin 400 is moved along the moving pinguide portion 123 of the fixed member 100 because the moving pin 400 ismoving together with the movable member 200.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are front views illustrating a coupled state of thefixed member 100, movable member 200, moving pin 400, and springs 500.FIG. 10A illustrates a state in which the moving pin 400 is positionedat one end of the rectilinear guide portion 124 of the moving pin guideportion 123 of the fixed member 100, and FIG. 10B illustrates a state inwhich the moving pin 400 is positioned at the curved guide portion 125of the moving pin guide portion 123 of the fixed member 100. The movingpin 400 moves between the above two positions. When the moving pin 400is positioned at the curved guide portion 125, the springs 500 aremaximally stretched.

As described above, the fixed member 100, to which the moving pin 400,movable member 200, and springs 500 are coupled, is coupled to the fixedrail 800 of the slide by the second coupling means, and the moving pinguide 300 is coupled to the inner movable rail 700 of the slide by thefirst coupling means.

Now, the function of the self-closing apparatus of the present inventionwill be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13.

In FIGS. 11 to 13, the slide is a three-member slide including twomovable rails (an intermediate movable rail and an inner movable rail)and one fixed rail. However, for simplification, the intermediatemovable rail positioned between the inner movable rail 700 and the fixedrail 800 will be omitted. Also, for convenience, the drawer and thewalls of the cabinet will be omitted, and only the slide will bedescribed. Further, since the fixed member 100 is fixed to the fixedrail 800, and the moving pin guide 300 is fixed to the inside of theinner movable rail 700 such that the moving pin guide 300 faces thefixed member 100, the moving pin guide 300 is not shown, but, forconvenience, is shown by a solid line.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the fixedmember 100 is separated from the moving pin guide 300 under thecondition that the fixed member 100 is riveted to the fixed rail 800 ofthe slide, and the moving pin guide 300 is coupled to the couplingprotrusion 710 of the inner movable rail 700 of the slide. When thedrawer is pushed from an open position toward a closed position, theinner movable rail 700 of the slide moves from an extended positiontoward a retracted position. In this case, the moving pin 400, which isinserted in the hole 211 of the movable member 200 to move integrallywith the movable member 200, is in a state of being positioned at thecurved guide portion 125 of the moving pin guide portion 123 of thefixed member 100. Also, the springs 500 are in a maximally stretchedstate.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the moving pinguide 300 is coupled to the moving pin 400, particularly to the supportpin portion 430, positioned at the curved guide portion 125 when theinner movable rail 700 further moves toward the retracted position. Inthis case, the support pin portion 430 of the moving pin 400 is insertedinto the pin-receiving inlet portion 310 defined by the first inletsurface 311 and second inlet surface 312, and is then moved along thefirst rectilinear engaging surface 323 and second rectilinear engagingsurface 324 of the pin engaging portion 320. This movement separates themoving pin 400 from the curved guide portion 125. As soon as the movingpin 400 is separated from the curved guide portion 125, the movablemember 200 and the moving pin 400 moving integrally with the movablemember 200 are moved along the rectilinear guide portion 124 by thetensile force of the springs 500. Then, the movable member 200 andmoving pin 400 move to a completely retracted position along therectilinear guide portion 124 of the fixed member 100 until the engagingsurface 223 (FIG. 6A) of the movable member 200 is engaged with thestoppers 119 of the fixed member 100, thereby causing the inner movablerail 700 of the slide to automatically move to the completely retractedposition.

According to the present invention, as described above, the engagementgroove 328 is formed at the second rectilinear engaging surface 324. Theengagement groove 328 is formed at a position, at which the support pinportion 430 of the moving pin 400 is engaged with the engagement groove328 just when the moving pin 400 is separated from the curved guideportion 125. Accordingly, as soon as the moving pin 400 is separatedfrom the curved guide portion 125, the support pin portion 430 of themoving pin 400 is safely engaged with the engagement groove 328, and ismoved along the rectilinear guide portion 124.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the moving pinguide 300 and the support pin portion 430 of the moving pin 400 havebeen moved to the completely retracted position of the slide (that is,the completely closed state of the drawer) by the force of springs 500.

The extension of the slide is performed in the reverse order of theabove process. When the inner movable member 700 of the slide isextended (that is, the drawer is extended), the moving pin 400, whichhas been in the state of FIG. 13, is moved along the rectilinear guideportion 124 under the condition that the support pin portion 430 of themoving pin 400 is engaged with the engagement groove 328. When themoving pin 400 reaches the curved guide portion 125, the support pinportion 430 of the moving pin 400 is separated from the engagementgroove 328, and is then moved along the second rectilinear engagingsurface 324 toward the pin-receiving inlet portion 310. When the supportpin portion 430 moves along the second rectilinear engaging surface 324,and reaches the pin-receiving inlet portion 310, the moving pin 400 isengaged with the curved guide portion 125 of the moving pin guideportion 123 of the fixed member 100 (the state shown in FIG. 12).Further movement of the moving pin 400 toward the extended positionseparates the moving pin 400 from the pin-receiving inlet portion 310 ofthe moving pin guide 300, so that the moving pin 400 is separated fromthe moving pin guide 300. The state, in which the moving pin guide 300moves toward the extended position after being separated from the movingpin 400, corresponds to the state of FIG. 11.

When the inner movable rail 700 of the slide is located at the extendedposition as described above, the moving pin 400 is positioned at thecurved guide portion 125 of the fixed member 100. When the inner movablerail 700 is moved to the retracted position, the pin engaging portion320 of the moving pin guide 300 coupled to the inner movable rail 700 iscoupled to the support pin portion 430 of the moving pin 400, and isthen pulled by the tensile force of the springs 500 to move along therectilinear guide portion 124 of the fixed member 100. The movement ofthe pin engaging portion 320 along the rectilinear guide portion 124 ofthe fixed member 100 is continued until the engaging surface 223 of themovable member 200 is engaged with the stoppers 119 of the fixed member100. Thus, the drawer is automatically moved to the completely closedposition.

As described above, the movable rails 700 and 900 are extended orretracted in a state of being operatively connected by the ballretainers 950. However, since the movable rails 700 and 900 aresupported by the ball retainers 950 only, the front ends of the movablerails 700 and 900 may be rocked during the extension or retraction ofthe movable rains 700 and 900. Such vibration of the movable rails 700and 900 causes a difficulty in coupling the moving pin guide 300 to themoving pin 400 when the state of FIG. 11 is changed to the state of FIG.12. That is, the vibration of the movable rails 700 and 900 disturbssmooth operation of the self-closing apparatus.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment movable member200′ which is provided with a movable rail support 270 for preventingthe front end of the inner movable rail 700 from vibrating. FIG. 14B isa sectional view of the movable member 200′ seen from the direction of“B” of FIG. 14A.

As shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the movable rail support 270 is formed ona surface of the movable member 200′ opposite to the surface of themovable member 200′ in which the U-shaped sliding grooves 222 areformed. The movable rail support 270 includes support bars 272 formedintegrally with the movable member 200′. Preferably, the support bars272 have a rectangular shape. Of course, the support bars 272 may have atriangular shape. The support bars 272 are vertically spaced apart fromeach other by a distance corresponding to the width of the inner movablerail 700. The support bars 272 have a length suitable to guide the innermovable rail 700. Preferably, the support bars 272 extend throughout theoverall length of the movable member 200′. The support bars 272 serve torestrain lateral vibration of the inner movable rail 700. Other portionsof the movable member 200′ are the same as those of the movable member200.

Preferably, support flanges 274 are respectively formed at free ends ofthe support bars 272. The support flanges 274 serve to restrain verticalvibration of the inner movable rail 700. To this end, the protrudedheight of each bar 272 from the movable member 200′ corresponds to theheight of the inner movable rail 700.

When the moving pin guide 300 moves toward the retracted position, themoving pin 400 is not in the state of being engaged with the curvedguide portion 125 (the state of FIG. 11), but may be located at thecompletely retracted position, i.e., at the position in which the movingpin guide 300 completes the movement along the rectilinear guide portion124 (the state of FIG. 13). This state occurs in the case that a certainelement enters the slide due to user's careless mistake when the slideis located at the extended position, thereby separating the moving pin400 from the curved guide portion 125. Even in such an abnormaloperating state, the self-closing apparatus of the present invention iseasily returned to its normal operating position.

When the moving pin guide 300 moves toward the retracted position in theabove state, that is, the abnormal operating state in which the movingpin 400 completes the movement along the rectilinear guide portion 124,as shown in FIG. 15, the moving pin guide 300 is moved toward theretracted position by the force applied by the user to push the drawerto the closed position, and the second inlet surface 312 of the movingpin guide 300 meets the support pin portion 430 of the moving pin 400.Since the second inlet surface 312 is inclined at an angle ofapproximately 45 degrees, further movement of the moving pin guide 300toward the retracted position cause to push the support pin portion 430of the moving pin 400 into the buffering space 126 of the fixed member100. This pushing moves the free end of the support protrusion 127 intothe buffering space 126. As a result, the moving pin 400 moves towardsthe pin engaging portion 320 after passing the second inlet surface 312of the moving pin guide 300. Consequently, the moving pin 400 enters thepin engaging portion 320 through the pin-receiving inlet portion 310 ofthe moving pin guide 300. When the moving pin 400 enters the pinengaging portion 320 of the moving pin guide 300, the self-closingapparatus of the present invention is returned to the original normaloperating position (the state of FIG. 13).

Preferably, as described above, the twist preventing protrusion 128 forpreventing the support protrusion 127 from twisting is formed at thesupport protrusion 127 on the rear surface of the fixed member 100 (FIG.7B). The twist preventing protrusion 128 serves to linearly move thesupport protrusion 127 to the buffering space 126 without twisting, whenthe self-closing apparatus of the present invention is returned from theabnormal operating state to the normal operating state, i.e., when thefurther movement of the moving pin guide 300 toward the retractedposition cause to push the support pin portion 430 of the moving pin 400into the buffering space 126 of the fixed member to move the free end ofthe support protrusion 127 into the buffering space 126. When thesupport protrusion 127 is severely twisted, the moving pin 400 may beseparated from the rectilinear guide portion 124 of the moving pin guideportion 123 of the fixed member 100, and may enter the buffering space126. In this case, the self-closing apparatus cannot operate normallyuntil the slide is disassembled and assembled to be returned to itsnormal position. When twisting force is applied to the supportprotrusion 127, the twist preventing protrusion 128 comes into contactwith the inner surface of the fixed rail 800 of the slide, and givesrepulsive force, thereby preventing the support protrusion 127 fromtwisting.

As described above, although the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention describes one slide, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat two slides must be symmetrically installed. Since two slides mustbe symmetrically installed, two self-closing apparatuses of the presentinvention must also be manufactured to have symmetrical structures,respectively, such that a pair of the fixed members 100 and a pair ofthe moving pin guides 300 are manufactured to have symmetricalstructures like a mirror image respectively.

Further, although the preferred embodiment of the present inventiondescribes a self-closing apparatus applied to a three-member slideincluding two movable rails and one fixed rail, those skilled in the artwill appreciate that the self-closing apparatus of the present inventionmay be applied to a two-member slide including one movable rail and onefixed rail.

Preferably, the self-closing apparatus of the present invention is madeof a plastic material having proper strength and elasticity, but is notlimited thereto.

Further, although the moving pin guide of the self-closing apparatus ofthe present invention is separately manufactured, and is mounted to theend of the movable rail in the illustrated case, the moving pin guidemay be formed at the end of the movable rail by means of punching.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides aself-closing apparatus for a slide, which automatically closes a drawerwithout continuously applying force to the drawer until the drawer iscompletely closed, and prevents the drawer from being re-opened byrepulsive force caused by impact generated when the drawer is slammed,thereby being conveniently used.

The self-closing apparatus of the present invention prevents earlybreakage of springs, has a simple structure and low production costs,and is easily returned from an abnormal operating state to a normaloperating state.

The self-closing apparatus of the present invention restrains vibrationof the front ends of the movable rails, thereby being smoothly operated.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

1. A self-closing apparatus for a slide comprising: a pair of springs; amoving pin comprising a support pin portion having a cylindrical shape,a support plate, and a guide protrusion; a moving pin guide comprising amoving pin guide slot and first coupling means, the moving pin guideslot comprising a pin-receiving inlet portion defined by two inletsurfaces, and a pin engaging portion defined by three engaging surfaces;a movable member including a plate portion centrally provided with ahole, sliding rods formed integrally with the plate portion, and springsupport portions to which first ends of the springs are respectivelycoupled; and a plate-shaped fixed member comprising a support basecomprising spring support portions, to which second ends of the springsare respectively coupled, an extension bar comprising movable membersliding portions respectively formed at opposite longitudinal sides ofthe extension bar, and a moving pin guide portion formed at anintermediate portion of the extension bar, a head, and second couplingmeans, wherein each sliding rod of the movable member comprises aprotrusion and a sliding groove; wherein the moving pin guide portion ofthe fixed member comprises a rectilinear guide portion and a curvedguide portion; wherein the moving pin is slidably coupled to the movingpin guide portion of the fixed member; the movable member slidingportions of the fixed member are slidably engaged with the slidinggrooves of the movable member under a condition in which the support pinportion of the moving pin is inserted in the hole of the movable member,so that the moving pin moves integrally with the movable member alongthe moving pin guide portion of the fixed member when the movable memberslides along the movable member sliding portions of the fixed member;wherein the moving pin guide is fixed to a movable rail of the slide bythe first coupling means such that the moving pin guide is movedtogether with the movable rail; and wherein the fixed member is fixed toa fixed rail of the slide by the second coupling means.
 2. Theself-closing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hole formedin the plate portion of the movable member has a length corresponding toa transversal length of the moving pin guide portion of the fixedmember.
 3. The self-closing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, whereinthe movable pin guide slot further comprises an engagement groove formedat one of three engaging surfaces of the pin engaging portion.
 4. Theself-closing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of thesprings has the tapered portions respectively formed at a portion nearthe end of the spring.
 5. The self-closing apparatus as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the first coupling means comprises a hole in which acoupling protrusion of the movable rail is fitted, and the secondcoupling means comprises riveting holes.
 6. The self-closing apparatusas set forth in claim 1, wherein the extension bar of the fixed memberfurther comprises a buffering space connected to the rectilinear guideportion of the moving pin guide portion while extending parallel withthe rectilinear guide portion, a support protrusion formed between themoving pin guide portion and the buffering space, and a twist preventingprotrusion formed at the support protrusion and adapted to prevent thesupport protrusion from twisting.
 7. The self-closing apparatus as setforth in claim 1, wherein the moving pin guide further comprises elasticblocks respectively formed at opposite longitudinal sides of the movingpin guide, and buffering grooves respectively formed around the elasticblocks, the elastic blocks being diverged from each other to haveelasticity.
 8. The self-closing apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein the extension bar of the fixed member further comprisesprotrusions respectively arranged close to and in parallel with themovable member sliding portions.
 9. The self-closing apparatus as setforth in claim 1, wherein the moving member further comprises a movablerail support formed on a surface of the movable member, and adapted tosupport the movable rail
 10. The self-closing apparatus as set forth inclaim 9, wherein the movable rail support comprises support bars formedintegrally with the movable member, and support flanges respectivelyformed at free ends of the support bars.
 11. A slide comprising: a fixedrail; two movable rails; ball retainers each located between adjacentones of the rails, and adapted to operatively connect the adjacent railssuch that the movable rails are slidable; and a self-closing apparatusas set forth in claim
 1. 12. The slide as set forth in claim 11, whereinone of the movable rails comprises a rail groove for receiving a part ofthe self-closing apparatus.
 13. The slide as set forth in claim 11,wherein the slide comprises a fixed rail, a movable rail, and a ballretainer located between the rails, and adapted to operatively connectthe rails such that the movable rails are slidable.
 14. The slide as setforth in claim 11, wherein the slide is a slide for a Kimchirefrigerator.